LANSING, MI -- Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson kicked off her re-election campaign Monday afternoon in Lansing, touting her efforts to reduce wait times at branch locations and fight potential fraud at the ballot box.

"I've taken an oath to uphold the constitution," Johnson told a crowd of roughly 30 supporters, including her 86-year-old mother, outside of the Dean Transportation headquarters. "I will continue to, for safeguarding the integrity of our elections and also for our fundamental freedoms that the constitution guarantees us."

Johnson noted that expanded online services through ExpressSOS.com have helped streamline the vehicle registration experience despite staff reductions over the past decade and said her goal over the next four years would be to "come as close as we can to being the no-wait secretary of state."

The ExpressSOS website has handled some 4.5 million transactions since 2011, according to her campaign. The department is also testing express kiosks in two Meijer stores and has implemented a new electronic line management system in some of the state's busiest branches.

"As a complement to that, we're tech-ing up all of our offices, so when you do go in the office, things will be faster, easier and better," Johnson told reporters after the event. "We're working with 25 percent less staff, so we have to work smarter."

The former state representative, who also serves as the state's top elections official, noted efforts to improve voter registration and increase campaign finance transparency. She highlighted a new state law requiring a post-election audits along with her push to remove dead, out-of-state or non-citizen residents from the voter rolls.

Johnson made waves in 2012 when she ordered a citizenship check box onto primary ballot applications despite Republican Gov. Rick Snyder's decision to veto related legislation. She said the goal was to ensure that non-residents did not break the law by voting, but critics suggested it was an act of voter intimidation.

"In terms of what the actual jobs is, it's pretty clear that Ruth Johnson has dramatically failed to uphold the duties of office," Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Josh Pugh said Monday. "Instead of making it easier to vote, Ruth Johnson has pushed for laws to keep Michigan residents from the polls."

Snyder ended up signing into law a modified bill that requires voters to sign a statement affirming they are citizens. Johnson noted the requirement in her speech Monday, earning applause from the crowd, and later told reporters she wants to ensure that elections are "convenient, but also secure."

The Lansing event was Johnson's second of the day on what was scheduled to be a four-stop, transportation-themed tour. She rode a Harley Davidson at a morning event in Waterford, was surrounded by buses in Lansing and was expected to paddle her kayak in Holland after also stopping in Grand Rapids.

Michigan Democrats do not yet have a secretary of state candidate. Parties will officially nominate candidates at conventions following the August primary election.